Titus 1 — Churches in Crete
Introduction: Titus was a Gentile who had been a companion of the apostle Paul for a number of years, most notably as a representative for Paul to the church at Corinth as indicated in 2 Corinthians, before he ministered in Crete. There is no mention of Titus in the gospels or in the book of Acts, so three of Paul’s letters provide the small amount of biographical data we have for Titus, and there is a more thorough discussion of that information in the separate MPN Bible study, “Paul and Titus.” The letter Paul wrote to Titus was to put into writing that which he had given to Titus verbally. The letter has provided guidance for church leaders down through the centuries. Titus was an uncircumcised Gentile who had not converted to Judaism, and Paul had entrusted to him the task of making the churches in Crete a Godly blend of Gentiles and Jews.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the World English Bible.
A — Paul’s Salutation in His Letter to Titus
Titus 1 “1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s chosen ones, and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who can’t lie, promised before time began; 3 but in his own time revealed his word in the message with which I was entrusted according to the commandment of God our Saviour; 4 to Titus, my true child according to a common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.”
Comments: Paul’s opening is similar to that in most of his other letters as he places servant first, but he is usually more direct by saying he is an apostle “by the will of God.” The phrase he uses here in his first statement about his apostleship asserts “according to the faith of God’s chosen ones,” placing him among the called of God, still with no personal accomplishment to qualify him as an apostle. He continues by saying that the knowledge of the truth, and hope of eternal life is directly from God. The specific event that set Paul apart is recorded for us in Acts 9 as he was commanded by the risen Christ while he was still known as Saul. So, in every way in the first three verses, all that Paul mentions is fully attributed to the Lord.
I believe that Paul wanted Titus to know that both of them had received the faith that is “common” to Jew and Gentile by the will of God. The phrase “according to the common faith” could be very important as Paul was appointing Titus to firmly ground churches that would probably have a component of Jewish believers who might otherwise not readily accept being under the teaching of Titus as a Gentile. As the apostles would be passing off the scene in the coming years, it was necessary to make clear to all Christians that the apostles had affirmed that Jew and Gentile are equal in Christ. Peter had earlier said this when Paul, Barnabas, and Titus were in Jerusalem regarding the claim by some Jews that Christian Gentiles had to be circumcised. Acts 15 “9 He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith. 11 But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they are.”
Paul wrote this in his letter to the Romans. Romans 10 “12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich to all who call on him. 13 For, ‘Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Paul has named God as Savior in verse 3, and the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior in verse 4. These verses give God the glory as the source of salvation to eternal life, and in essence they proclaim that God and Christ are one.
B — The Duty Set Before Titus
Titus 1 “5 I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;”
Comments: In Acts 2:11 Cretans were mentioned among the many different groups of those who heard the gospel message in their own tongue. But the only mention of the island of Crete in the New Testament is in Acts chapter 27. This was during the time when Paul was being taken to Rome as a prisoner. The ship that Paul was on stopped at Fair Havens on the southeast part of Crete for an unspecified period before they left to continue to Rome. There are no details of what Paul may have done in Crete, or if Titus was with him at that time. Paul’s letter indicates that it was important to “set in order the things that were lacking,” and appoint elders in the various cities. Paul does not enumerate what was lacking, though there may have been some clarification of the gospel needed to stabilize each assembly, and that may have included acceptance of uncircumcised believers, before elders could be appointed. Sound leadership is important whenever people assemble around the word of God. The apostles had insisted that there be no difference between Jew and Gentile in the body of Christ, so Gentiles would also be qualified to be elders.
C — Necessary Qualities for a Leader of the Local Church
Titus 1 “6 if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behaviour. 7 For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain; 8 but given to hospitality, a lover of good, sober minded, fair, holy, self-controlled; 9 holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.”
Comments: The most direct cross reference for this passage is in 1 Timothy chapter 3 as Paul provides a similar outline. Both passages agree that an overseer must be a very temperate man who is the husband of one wife. As for his children, 1 Timothy states “3:4 one who rules his own house well, having children in subjection with all reverence; 5 (but if a man doesn’t know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the assembly of God?)” A man can be expected to be in control of his own household, but salvation is of the Lord for those who believe in his name.
Since the overseer is God’s steward of the assembly, there should be no legitimate claim to charge him with the aspects listed as negative by Paul. He should exhibit the positive characteristics that would give him a good reputation even to those outside the church. This will minimize distraction from delivery of the word of God. It is of utmost importance that he hold to the faithful word that is according to the teaching of the Lord and of his apostles, that he may be able to urge and encourage in the sound doctrine, while also clearly refuting those who contradict that sound doctrine. Most of the Jewish leaders and teachers had rejected the Lord’s teaching, including even the high priest, and therefore condemned him as a blasphemer. Surely this must have contributed to confusion for Jews who later became Christians.
D — There Are Those Who Must Be Rebuffed for False Teaching
Titus 1 “10 For there are also many unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision, 11 whose mouths must be stopped; men who overthrow whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for dishonest gain’s sake. 12 One of them, a prophet of their own, said, ‘Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and idle gluttons.’ 13 This testimony is true. For this cause, reprove them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith, 14 not paying attention to Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.”
Comments: Paul does not say that all of the “unruly men, vain talkers and deceivers” are of the circumcision (i.e. Jews), but at this early point in the development of the Christian church, there were still Jews who held on to certain Jewish teaching and traditions, and believed they should apply to Gentiles. Paul said those who were mainly interested in dishonest gain, could overthrow whole houses by teaching things that should not be taught, and he said their mouths needed to be stopped. The general population of Crete apparently had a bad reputation as liars, and as those whose chief goal was to fulfill their own desires through whatever means convenient. Since this was the prevalent society, Paul urges Titus to reprimand, correct, repress them severely or abruptly that they may be sound in the faith. The purpose was to firmly ground the body of believers in the truth, not allowing them to be led astray by Jewish fables and commandments of men who turn away from the truth.
E — Distinction Between the Pure and the Defiled
Titus 1 “15 To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their mind and their conscience are defiled. 16 They profess that they know God, but by their works they deny him, being abominable, disobedient, and unfit for any good work.”
Comments: Paul said even though some will insist that certain ceremonial and dietary restrictions must be followed by all Christians, he asserts that all things are pure to those who are truly pure. Peter was told directly by the Lord that signs of separation between Jew and Gentile had been cleansed (Acts 10:9–16). Paul wrote about this matter in other letters, indicating these practices have an appearance of worship, but lacked the substance of pure faith. Colossians 2 “23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.” For those who are defiled and unbelieving, no strict regimen that they follow will make them pure. In fact their own reasoning and their own sense of right and wrong are impure and corrupt. They may profess to know God, but their actions and attitudes deny that the Holy Spirit is at work within them. Jesus said in Matthew 7 “20 Therefore, by their fruits you will know them. 21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Reflections in Prayer
Lord, I am thankful that the opening of the Apostle Paul’s letter to Titus helps me to understand that it was your plan to bring Jew and Gentile together. Paul was a scholarly Jew who initially rejected Christ, and persecuted the church. He became a servant of the resurrected Lord as an apostle, by your choice and for your purposes. You have also chosen me by your grace to be your servant within my role as part of the body of Christ, and Paul’s letter has reminded me that I now share in the grace common to the greatest and the least in the kingdom of God. I ask for your guidance as I continue to study your word so I will avoid empty traditions that may be held by various denominations that could carry me or others away from pure worship. I want to be able to follow sound doctrine and to refute teaching that is not consistent with your word. I believe that you have made me pure in your sight, and therefore if I continually seek your word, you will make the practices that come from my heart to be pure as well. This is not limited to those times when I am together with other Christians, but must also shape my conduct before unbelievers, that my reputation will not be a cause for reproach to the church. Thank you Lord for your mercy and grace in my life. Amen.
Published 30 March 2012